County Ethics Board

How Do I Report an Ethics Violation?

SECTION 23. REPORTING VIOLATIONS OF THIS ORDINANCE

Any Elected Official, Appointed Official, Employee or Volunteer, or member of the public, may submit a complaint of unethical conduct to the County Ethics Board by delivering to the County Attorney's Office a sworn complaint alleging facts which, if true, would constitute a violation of this Ordinance. The County Attorney's office will forward all such sworn complaints to the County's contract ethics official who will determine whether the complaint states a claim under this Ordinance. The County's contract ethics official shall refer all employment matters to the County's Human Resources Department. If the complaint fails to state a claim under this Ordinance, the complaining party shall be so informed and the complaint shall be dismissed, subject to a right of appeal to the County Ethics Board. If the complaint states a claim under this Ordinance, the County's ethics official shall investigate the allegations, prepare a report and recommendations and shall present the same to the County Ethics Board for

further proceedings. The County Ethics Board shall conduct a public hearing prior to taking any of the actions described in Section 24(H) of this Ordinance.

Please Note: No action may be taken by the County Ethics Board on any complaint that is filed later than one year after a violation of this Ordinance is alleged to have occurred or that is filed more than six months from the date of the discovery of the alleged violation, upon due diligence by the complaining party, of the facts constituting a violation, whichever event occurs later.

Report a Violation to:

Mr. Stephen Ross, County Attorney
Santa Fe County Attorney’s Office
102 Grant Avenue
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87506

SECTION 26. NON-RETALIATION.

The Board of Commissioners does not tolerate retaliation, workforce discrimination or harassment of any kind against any person who has reported a violation of this Ordinance in good faith. This non-retaliation provision applies whether the complaint is ultimately determined to be well-founded or unfounded. All Elected Officials, Appointed Officials, Employees and Volunteers are specifically prohibited from taking any adverse employment action, engaging in workplace discrimination or harassment of any kind, or other retaliatory action against anyone for reporting a good faith claim of violation. Anyone who believes that they have been subject to workplace discrimination or harassment of any kind or who has been retaliated against in violation of this Ordinance should submit a sworn complaint to the Ethics Board or the Human Resources Department setting forth the claim.

This non-retaliation provision is not applicable to claims that were not submitted in good faith and for which the County Ethics Board finds that the complaint was frivolous.

Ethics Board Ordinances

Download Ordinance 2010- 12 »
There shall be created a Santa Fe County Ethics Board that shall consist of three members who shall be appointed by the Board of Commissioners. At least one citizen member shall be appointed; the citizen member shall not be affiliated with County government in any capacity, including, but not limited to, employment (including employment for which the salary is in any way funded by or through the County), appointment, election, or serving as a volunteer. The members of the County Ethics Board may not hold elected public office or office with any political party within the County. Each member shall serve a two year term, subject to reappointment thereafter.

Download Ordinance: 2011-9 »
Ethics Board Ordinance Amending Ordinance 2010-12
Santa Fe County Code of Conduct, Amending Definitions, Amending Disclosures to Require Affirmative Disclosures of Conflicts Resulting in Recusal or Otherwise, Increasing The County Ethics Board to Five Members, Including an Additional Penalty or Removal from Office, and Repealing Inconsistent Language

The County Ethics Board does NOT have a regular meeting schedule.

Ethics Board Members

• Adair L. Waldenberg, Chair - Appointed Jan 25, 2011, term expires Jan 25, 2013
• Estevan L. Baca, Vice-Chair - Appointed Jan 25, 2011, term expires Jan 25, 2013
• David E. Mittle, Member - Appointed Jan 31, 2012, term expires Jan 31, 2014
• Leon R. Young, Member - Appointed February 14, 2012, term expires Feb 14, 2014
• William P. George, Member- Appointed October 9, 2012, term expires October 9, 2014